Reeves cuts A1 Northumberland dualling
Signed off by the previous government in May after a series of delays, the improvement of the critical route between Morpeth and Ellingham has been decreed “unfunded and unaffordable” by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
A development consent order was given on 24 May for the project, described by National Highways as a part of the A1 used by a wide variety of people for many different reasons, including people travelling long-distance between Newcastle and Edinburgh for work, local traffic accessing rural areas and tourists.
As well as upgrading eight miles of carriageway between Morpeth and Felton, including construction of a new dual carriageway bypassing the existing A1 between Priests Bridge and Burgham Park, the project was to include the de-trunking of the old section of the A1 carriageway to become a local road managed by Northumberland County Council.
Between Alnwick and Ellingham a further five miles of the existing A1 would have been upgraded to dual carriageway, along the existing single carriageway road.
Deputy Leader of Northumberland County Council Richard Wearmouth said, “I am shocked at the cancellation of works to dual the A1. The decision by the government is incredibly disappointing for Northumberland residents. £67m had been invested by the last government on land acquisition, gaining planning permission and completing design works. The project was literally shovel-ready.
“The scheme is of vital importance to our local and regional economy, it would strengthen the Union in terms of better links to Scotland and it would significantly improve safety for Northumberland residents.
“I am in the process of contacting National Highways to seek immediate discussions to ensure the work done to date it not squandered. Our council will campaign tirelessly to get this project back up and running at the earliest opportunity.”
The writing may have been on the wall – as early as June, the soon-to-be deputy prime minister Angela Rayner refused to commit any Labour government to carrying out a promise made by a Conservative government that was strongly believed to be on its way out.
This was one of five projects dismissed in the Department for Transport round-up as part of yesterday’s Budget, along with the A5036 Princess Way in north Liverpool, A358 Taunton to Southfields, M27 Junction 8 Southampton, and the A47 Great Yarmouth Vauxhall roundabout.